IME Derailed Debris Collection
Joshua Hoffman Ph.D., P.E., Institute of Makers of Explosives, Washington, D.C., USA
Brandon Fryman, APT Research, Huntsville, AL, USA
Keywords: Testing, Debris, Collection, TP-21, IMESAFR, IME
The Institute of Makers of Explosives (IME) led a post-detonation debris collection project in
conjunction with a large AN railcar detonation conducted by the Department of Homeland
Security-Transportation Security Administration, Department of Defense-Combating Terrorism
Technical Support Office, Sandia National Laboratories, and the U.S. Army Dugway Proving
Grounds. This important work will aid in underpinning algorithms used in the IMESAFR
Quantitative Risk Assessment tool. The test also provided valuable data about AN detonation
characteristics when it is driven to detonation. The test took place at the Utah Dugway Proving
Grounds on April 27, 2018 and the debris collection was conducted the following two weeks
with an average of 20 persons per day and an approximate total of 1400 manhours. This paper
details the collection efforts, challenges, and lessons learned. It also presents some of the initial
findings relating to the debris distribution.
